Lockheed DC-130A 158228 and 158229 United States Navy

These are 1/72 scale decals for Lockheed DC-130A Drone Controllers, BuNos 158228 and 158229, operated by the United States Navy's Composite Squadron Three (VC-3) — two of the Navy's dedicated drone launch and control Hercules variants. Both aircraft can be modeled with either three- or four-bladed propellers.

The DC-130A was a specialized derivative of the C-130 Hercules configured to carry, launch, and control unmanned aerial vehicles from underwing pylons. Equipped with a drone control station in the cargo compartment and hardpoints capable of carrying up to four drones simultaneously, the DC-130 served as the airborne mothership for a range of target drones and reconnaissance UAVs — including the Ryan Firebee series — giving the Navy a flexible, long-range drone operations platform that could operate well clear of hostile territory.

Composite Squadron Three (VC-3), based at NAS Moffett Field, California, was one of the Navy's primary composite squadrons tasked with fleet support missions including drone operations, target towing, and electronic warfare training. VC-3's DC-130As provided drone launch and control services to the Pacific Fleet, supporting both training exercises and operational requirements throughout the Cold War period.

A highly specialized and seldom-modeled variant of the ubiquitous Hercules, the DC-130A offers a unique subject for builders interested in Cold War naval aviation, UAV history, or the lesser-known support missions of the fleet. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.